NORDC top senior division baseball players headed to 2013 RBI World Series

July 30, 2013

NEW ORLEANS, LA—The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission’s top senior division (ages 16-18) baseball players are headed to Minneapolis August 3-8 for the 2013 Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) World Series for the first time after claiming their title as Southwest Regional Champions. This is the first year of the NORDC/RBI partnership. The RBI World Series is being hosted by the Minnesota Twins.

In order to qualify for the RBI World Series, RBI leagues from the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and South America competed in eight RBI Regional qualifying tournaments this summer. The NORDC team competed in four games at the Southwest Regional Tournament July 18- 21, 2013 in Arlington, Texas.

Team member Tyler Reid credited the NORDC coaches for the team’s success. “It felt good. And it all goes back to what the coaches said, ‘hard work pays off.’ That’s what happened. We worked hard, and it paid off.”

The NORDC Senior baseball team will compete in tournament pool play against three teams at the World Series: Boys & Girls Club Venice RBI on August 5; Chicago Cubs RBI and Santo Domingo RBI on August 6. They’ll then compete in interleague playoffs on August 7th for the chance to play in the Championship Game on Thursday, August 8 at Target Field. The Senior Division Championship Game of the RBI World Series will air on MLB Network.

“We’re so proud,” said Eric Soublet, Director, NORDC/RBI Program. “These 15 individual athletes from NORDC playgrounds all across the city quickly united to form one strong team. Focus, skill and determination got them to the World Series, traits that will serve them well in all areas of their lives.”

“We couldn’t be prouder of these impressive young athletes who represent our great city of New Orleans while embodying the spirit of NORDC’s athletics,” said Vic Richard, NORDC CEO.

The RBI program is a Major League Baseball youth initiative designed to provide opportunities to play baseball and softball, to encourage excellence and achievement in education, and to teach the value of teamwork and other important life lessons for young people, ages 5 to 18, from underserved and urban communities. The RBI program is providing more than 210,000 boys and girls with the opportunity to play baseball and softball in more than 300 programs established in more than 200 cities worldwide. MLB and all 30 Clubs have designated more than $30 million worth of resources to the RBI program, and all 30 Clubs support RBI leagues. For more information, visit www.MLB.com/rbi.

The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission provides high quality recreational, physical health, cultural, community interaction, and lifestyle enrichment programs to New Orleans residents of all ages and levels of ability. NORDC strives to augment the quality of life, personal self-esteem, community connection, and sense of empowerment of all citizens of New Orleans. For more information, visit www.nola.gov/nordc.